Quick Steamed Buns (Mantao)
These quick steamed buns, known as mantao, are fluffy Chinese-style bread rolls made with flour, water, dried yeast and a touch of sugar. The Thermomix kneads the dough to a silky consistency and steams the buns until pillowy soft, ideal as a side or snack.
About this recipe
Quick steamed buns, or mantao, are a classic Chinese bakery staple that you can now make effortlessly with the Thermomix TM7 all-in-one kitchen machine. Searching for an easy mantao recipe or quick steamed buns Thermomix recipes usually leads to complicated hand-kneading instructions, but the TM7 changes that completely. The machine warms the water to the ideal range for activating dried yeast, kneads the wheat flour dough into a smooth elastic ball, and the Varoma steams the buns until they turn wonderfully fluffy and light. These buns are fantastic as a snack, a side with Asian main courses, or filled at the table with savoury dishes. Their subtly sweet flavour and cloud-soft crumb make them a family favourite, and because the dough comes together quickly, they are realistic even for a busy weeknight dinner or weekend meal prep session.
Preparation tips
- Dissolve the dried yeast in the warm water with the sugar first and wait until it foams slightly; this confirms the yeast is active before you add the wheat flour and salt.
- Shape the mantao dough into even pieces so all buns steam at the same pace, and leave enough space between them on the Varoma tray because they expand considerably during steaming.
- For a softer, sweeter bun loved by children, brush the finished mantao lightly with olive oil and serve warm; leftovers can be reheated briefly in a steamer or frozen for later.
Recipe variations
- Wholemeal variation: replace half of the wheat flour with wholemeal flour for a nuttier flavour and slightly denser crumb, keeping the mantao lovely and soft with the same steaming method.
- Festive filled variation: flatten each bun, add a spoonful of sweet red bean paste or savoury pork filling, then seal and steam for festive mantao that work beautifully at a celebration table.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- The TM7 heats the water gently so the dried yeast activates reliably for a light, airy dough.
- Weigh the wheat flour directly in the mixing bowl for consistent mantao dough every single time.
- The Thermomix kneads the flour, olive oil and salt into a smooth elastic dough without sticky hands.
- Gentle steaming in the Varoma turns the shaped buns into pillowy soft mantao with an even crumb.
- Mixing the sugar evenly through the dough at low speed guarantees a subtle sweetness in every bite.
Ingredients
- water
- sugar
- dried yeast
- olive oil
- flour
- salt
- wheat flour